pa
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1
in a manner that inspires sympathy by showing weakness, sadness, or helplessness
- She reached out pathetically for comfort after the accident.
- The injured bird fluttered pathetically on the ground.
- He pleaded pathetically for forgiveness after the mistake.
- The orphan looked pathetically into the crowd, searching for a family.
- The old man smiled pathetically despite his obvious pain.
Synonyms:
2
in a way that is noticeably weak, ineffective, or laughably inadequate
- He protested pathetically against the new rules, but no one listened.
- The team's defense collapsed pathetically during the final minutes.
- She attempted to explain her absence pathetically, with excuses no one believed.
- The presentation ended pathetically after technical problems disrupted it.
- The proposal was rejected pathetically due to lack of preparation.